Helleborus plant named ‘COSEH 8000’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Helleborus  plant named ‘COSEH 8000’, characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; greyed purple to dark purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘COSEH 8000’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 6000’

Inventor/Applicant: Josef Heuger

Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/873,648

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 6100’

Inventor/Applicant: Josef Heuger

Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/873,647

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 6300’

Inventor/Applicant: Josef Heuger

Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/873,646

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 7900’

Inventor/Applicant: Josef Heuger

Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/873,651

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Inventor/Applicant, Mr. Josef Heuger of Glandorf, Germany, on Jun. 6, 2019, application number 2019/1394. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor or Applicant. Inventor/Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant, botanically known as Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘COSEH 8000’.

The new Helleborus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new uniform Helleborus plants with unique and attractive plant habit, leaf and flower coloration and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress.

The new Helleborus plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany in December, 2011 of a proprietary selection of Helleborus x ericsmithii identified as code number P840, not patented, as the female, or seed patent and an unnamed selection of Helleborus x hybridus, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The new Helleborus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in January, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Helleborus plant by in vitro axillary meristem culture in a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany since April, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Helleborus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘COSEH 8000’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘COSEH 8000’ as a new and distinct Helleborus plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Greyed purple to dark purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus are not as vigorous as plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus flower earlier than plants of         the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus are more vigorous than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are greyed purple to         dark purple in color whereas flowers of plants of the male         parent selection are reddish in color.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 6000’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 6000’ in flower color as flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are greyed purple to dark purple in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘COSEH 6000’ are dark greyed purple in color.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 6100’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 6100’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have greyed purple to dark purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 6100’ have greyed purple to greyed red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 6300’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 6300’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have greyed purple to dark purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 6300’ have yellow green and green white-colored flowers with red purple to greyed purple-colored margins.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 7900’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 7900’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have greyed purple to dark purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 7900’ have greyed purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can also be compared to plants of Helleborus x hybridus ‘ABCRD02’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,720. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘ABCRD02’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus have dark green-colored leaves         without distinct venation whereas plants of ‘ABCRD02’ have dark         green-colored leaves with distinct venation.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of ‘ABCRD02’         in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have greyed         purple to dark purple-colored flowers whereas plants of         ‘ABCRD02’ have purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Helleborus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Helleborus plant. The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘COSEH 8000’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘COSEH 8000’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during March in 17-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Helleborus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 12° C. Plants were four months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x     hybridus ‘COSEH 8000’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Helleborus             x ericsmithii disclosed as code number P840, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Helleborus x             hybridus, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro axillary meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 55 days at             temperatures about 12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 170 days             at temperatures ranging from 4° C. to 15° C.         -   Root description.—Thick to thin, fleshy; typically white to             brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Low branching; sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright to             somewhat outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit with             flowers held within and above the foliar plane; plant shape,             broadly inverted triangle; moderately vigorous to vigorous             growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 25.7             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 40 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 68 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves arranged in a basal rosette; leaves             palmately compound with typically five leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 21.6 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 23.5 cm.         -   Leaflet length.—About 14.7 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 7.9 cm.         -   Leaf shape.—Palmate; orbicular to reniform in outline.         -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate to elliptic.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.         -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate; coarsely undulate.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; slightly glossy.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; matte.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             147A; midvein proximally tinged with close to 187B.             Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to N186C. Fully             developed leaflets, upper surface: Slightly darker than             between 139A and N189A; venation, close to 144A. Fully             developed leaflets, lower surface: Close to 148B; venation,             close to between 152C and 195A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 19.2 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm to             8 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 146C heavily covered with fine             dots, close to 187A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower shape and habit.—Rotate flowers; flowers moderately             cupped; arranged in panicles; freely flowering habit with             about eight flowers per inflorescence and about 64 flowers             developing per plant; flowers face mostly outwardly to             slightly nodding and slightly upright.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about ten             months after planting; plants flower naturally from winter             into the late winter in Germany.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; sepals             persistent, other flower parts are not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             glossy. Color: Close to N77B; venation, close to 187B.         -   Inflorescence height (including peduncle).—About 51.2 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 19.9 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6.6 cm by 6.6 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.3 cm.         -   Petals.—All petals are transformed into nectaries.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five, arranged in a             single whorl. Length: About 3.4 cm. Width: About 3 cm.             Shape: Broadly ovate, slightly concave. Apex: Obtuse. Base:             Truncate to broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly             undulate to not undulate. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to N77D; proximally, flushed             with close to 146D; venation, similar to lamina. When             opening, lower surface: Close to between N77B and N186D;             proximally, tinged with close to 148D; venation, close to             between 59A and N77A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to             186A to 186B; proximally, tinged with close to 151D;             venation, similar to lamina; with development becoming             closer to N77B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to N186D             and N186B; venation, close to N186C; color does not change             with development.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Typically one or two.             Length: About 5.6 cm. Width: About 3.2 cm. Shape: Ovate.             Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Sparsely and finely             serrate. Color, upper surface: Close to between NN137A and             147A. Color, lower surface: Close to N186C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 43 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.             Aspect: About 15° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color:             Close to 150D, heavily covered with fine dots, close to             187D.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3.6 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Aspect: About 10° to 30° from peduncle axis. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately glossy. Color: Close to 150C to 150D heavily             covered with fine dots, close to 187C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 70.             Filament length: About 1.5 cm. Filament color: Close to 157D             to lighter than 157D; proximally, close to 76D. Anther             shape: Double and broadly reniform; basifixed. Anther size:             About 2 mm by 2.5 mm. Anther color: Close to between 150C             and 150D. Pollen amount: Sparse to moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 4D to lighter than 4D. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: About five to seven. Pistil length: About 1.3 cm.             Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped.             Stigma color: Close to 155A. Style length: About 1.2 cm.             Style color: Close to N186D. Ovary color: Close to N186D.             Nectaries (transformed petals): Quantity per flower: About             ten. Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape:             Tubular, flattened. Texture and luster, inner and outer             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, immature             and mature, inner surface: Close to N144B; venation, similar             to lamina; with development, becoming closer to N144A and             distally, close to 151A. Color, immature and mature, outer             surface: Close to N144B; towards the base, close to N144D;             basal spot, close to 152C; venation, similar to lamina; with             development, becoming closer to N144A and distally, close to             151A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Helleborus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Helleborus have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, high     temperatures about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness     Zones 5 through 9. -   Pathogen & pest resistance:

To date, plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Helleborus plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Helleborus plant named ‘COSEH 8000’ as illustrated and described. 